Anzesthetizing apparatus



sept. 9, 1930. K. mass, 1,775,227 ANESTHETIZING .APPARATUS Filed Narn 8, 1926 2 sheets-sneer 1 ATTORN EYS Sept. 9, 1930. L. K. RIGGs ANESTHETIZING APPARATUS Filed March 8, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet,"2

ATTORN EYS Il Il Patented Sept. 9, 1930 V'LLoYnx. mees, or NEW isaunsvvrcx,4 NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO E. R. SQUIBB AND SONS, OFNEW YORK, N. vY., .A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ANESTHETIZING APPARATUS f s yApplication led March 8,/1926. Serial No. 93,099.y

This invention .relatestol an apparatus for producing gaseous mixtures, and particularly such mixtures as are employed, for anaesthetic `purposes although the apparatus may be utilized toy produce mixtures of any gases in predetermined proportions. -In producing anaesthesia it is usual to ad- `m`inister mixtures of gases such, for example, as mixtures of propylen, oxygen and air, and `it is essential that the proportions in Which these gases are present in the lmixture be delinite .and predetermined. lIt is desirable, moreover, that the proportions be regulable in orderv that the conditions attending the anlaesthesia maybe properly controlled. Thus,

or example, it may be desirable to administer promptly an excess of pure oxygen to revive a patient.

.Apparatus has beenv devised and utilized heretoforetfor the purpose of administering gaseous anaesthetics and 4,mixtures thereof. Testsy conducted with such apparatus have shown that it is unreliable because the proportions ofthe gases actually delivered in the mixture do not correspond `ordinarily with the calibrations of suchv instruments. It has notgbeen possibleheretofore to produce and administer mixtures of gases with assurance that the proportions are definite nor to vary these proportions at Will. i l

It is the object of the presentinvention to provide a simple and compact apparatus jvvhich iscapable of delivering` a plurality of different gases kin predetermined proportions 'to a 'commonmixing chamber, the apparatus being so arranged that 'two or more gases can 'be supplied in the desired proportions.v I A further object of the invention isto proldean apparatusl in Which a rapid flow of one of the gases, for example, oxygen, is permitted under conditions Which` require the administration of this gas Without the necessity ofmeasuring the quantity supplied. l

Other objects andadvantageso'fthe invention will be' apparent as Iit is better understood by reference to the ,following specification yand accompanying drawing, in .which 'Fig'.` 1 is an elevation partially in section of the, apparatus embodying the invention;

- Fig. 2 is 'a plan view thereofyand acetylene,

Fig. 3 is an endelevation of the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

L In carrying out the invention I employ a plurality of lovvmeters discharging into a common mixing chamber and having inclined legsA communicatlng With a common recep- `tacle in Which a quantity of liquid is maintained at a predeterminedlevel. -Each of the lowmeters comprises a pipe in Whicha diaphragm having a capillary opening is disposed. Each of the pipes communicates with yone of the legs which is normally filled with liquid Yfrom the common receptacle with packed for transportation ,with a suitable v pressure-reducing valveV to controlthe flow of gasl therefrom. Thus, the apparatus may be supplied with oxygen, air, vpropylene, ethylene, nitrous oxide,A carbon ydioxide or or anytother Agasyvvhich is to be utilized either alone or in admixture with one or more of the other gases. When one or more of the valves controlling the supply of gases under pressure is open that gas is permitted to 'fiovv through the vpipe and thence through the capillary opening in the diaphragm tothe mixing chamber. `At the same timethepressure of the gas is exerted upon the liquid inthe connected leg and a .portion of the liquid is forced thereby into the common receptacle for the liquid, the amount of movement of the liquid in the leg depending upon the` difference in pressure on opposite sides ofthe `diaphragms in the several pipes through which the gases enter the apparatus. By observing the position of the'liquid in the several legs with reference to the calibration employedy in connection therewith in the form of scales adjacent to the legs, the exact amounty of each particular gas entering the mixing chamber can be determined and the Valves can be regulated consequentlyto supply the several gases in'any desired proportions. The .gases in. the desired proportions enter the mixing chamber, arethere mingled land are withdrawn and delivered FIC? fthepipeandto maintain a dierence in presfsure lthegases on'opposite sides ofthel diaphragins so that corresponding dierences in' pressure exist in the legs 13, 14, 15,16 and 17 through a suitable connection Which permits the application thereof for the intended purposed, for example, the application of the gases to produce anaesthesia.

In additionk to the vadvantage of exact con'- trol of the proportions of the yseveral gases entering `the lmixing chamber l the" apparatus hasthe advantage that when it is desirable to administer a single gas, :tor example, oxygen .Withoutmeasurement, yall ofthe valves may be closed quickly with the 'exception ofthe valve leading to the supply of oxygen. This valve can be opened to supply the gas under suicient pressure to forcey all of the liquid Y from the leg into the liquid receptacle. The

gas will pass 'thence into ,themixing'chamber vwhich is no longerfsupplied With other'V gases and Without measurement. `Thus it is possible tosupply oxygen, for example, in copious quantities `in case of emergency by simple Y manipulation oi the valves.` f

:'K'Ihesimple lform of the apparatus is illus- Y trated-inthe accompanying drawing.k `It is v4supported preferably upon an upright frame i Woodor otherfsuitable 'material and includes a plurality of pipes6, 7, 8,- 9 and 10,

each'of which terminates near theloottom ofV the ramekina nipple 11 having a valve 12 Y therein. Each of thefnipples is adapted to be connected through a suitable hoseito `a source of gas underpressure suchv as the Wellknown pressure cylinders in Whichvarious gases are transported. Inclined legs 13, 14,15, 16 and 17 areconnected to the pipes 6, 7 ,8, 9 and 10, theselegs being of some suitable transparent .material such aswglassland havingadjacent 4'thereto scales 18l ,'vvhichvv are calibrated vto in"- dicated `thevolume of the gases'iiovving .through theapparatus as determined by the position of Aliquidlin thelegs. rThe liquid is maintained in acommon receptacle19 with Whicheach of the legsv communicates. i The receptacle liaspreferably a glass wall so that .'"the` level of liquid therein ycaribe observed.

Afmixing chamber .20 'is connected to each of thepiples 6, 7, 8, and 9 and `10, and'totherecep- '.tacle 19 through a connection 21.. yA 'diapliragm 22 having a capillary opening is disj oosedfin each of the pipes 6, 7,'8, 9 and 10 to limit the 'amount of gas i'lowing through and the receptacle19; Because of -these diffte'rences infpressure thefposition of theyliquid 'in thejseveral legs vWill be deter-mined by the la'llnount of each .gas Which is flowingithrough fthe apparatus to the mixing chamber-20,and

'by adjustment vof vthe valves 12 the amount` 'of eachgas canbe determinedaccurately-and consequently` theA proportions of the gases in the mixture `can be variedat will. yThe gases areinixed in .the mixing chamber 2O vpreter- :ailyvijhihe aiu l'aspi'ral vane eaandthe several legs,

portions,

, mixture escapes through an outlet 24 which may be connected to the yapparatus (not shown) in which the mixture is utilized.

The leveloi liquid in the receptacle 19 is maintained preferablyV by they introduction thereofcontinuously through a pipe V25y havfing a valve 26-and a bowl 27 into which liquid.V

can be permitted t0 run from any suitable source. The amount of liquid in the recepytacleV 19 is determined by an overflow Ypipe 28 the .preparationof-gaseollS mixtures for anaesthetlcypurposes.

y Y It'affordsassurance-oi safety `in the use of such gases and thus reduces materially the hazardswhich have ac companied the application of anaesthetic gases Y in they past. The apparatus is particularly eective because of the yease with", Which :changesin the composition' of the 4,gaseous mixture oanbe accomplished and the readiness With Whichl the changes can be observed. l

Any modification inthe vpositions otanyfof i the valves controlling the flowotegases A through the yapparatus ifsretlected immediately by the changed position ofthe liquid in 'theandbytheprovisi'on ot properly calibrated. scales'the proportions of' gases in the mixture at any given moment can be vread directly from thescales. Should it become the Aadjustment ofthe valves accomplishes the ,position vthe positions of the liquid therein. L

These ob'ects and advantages are attainable inthe apparatus asillustrated and de scribed and bythe use of various/modifications thereof Without departing fromfthe invention 110 I claim?- necessary to vary the composition of Chagas-,100

eousl mixturey during the applicationthereofM Y ,object almost instantaneously, the 'new Comf ofjthe mixture beinggapparent .im-

mediately by .reference vto therseveral legs -andl105 i T1. In an apparatus itor producing mixtures l pipes adapted 'to'be connected separately to of gaseous constituents inpredetermined prothe combination of a plurality of ..115 sources of the gaseous-constituents under A pressurepa mixing chamber directlyconrmunicating With lthexpipesj, fand liquid Vcontaining means including a common reservoir Vconnectedvvith the pipes andmixinggchamber and ,controlled by differential*pressures" in the pipes and mixing chamber to indicate the relative quantity of each gaseous constituent entering the mixture. l' p Y v L `2. In an apparatus forproducing mixtures 'of gaseous constituents inpredetermined proportions, the combinationofa mixing charnbelga plurality` of pipes directlyconnected thereto and adapted to be connected separately tofsources 'of the tgaseous constituents fico Y Llll under pressure, a plurality of legs connected to the pipes, a liquid receptacle communicating with the legs and with the mixing chamber and means to maintain diii'erential pressures between the pipes and mixing chamber whereby the liquid levels in the legs indicate the relative quantity of each gaseous constituent entering the mixture.

3. In an apparatus for producing mixtures of gaseous constituents in predetermined proportions, the combination of a mixing chamber, a plurality of pipes connected thereto and adapted to be connected separately to sources of the gaseous constituents under pressure, a plurality of legs connected to the pipes, a liquid receptacle communicating with the legs and with the mixing chamber and diaphragms having capillary openings between the pipes and the mixing chamber to maintain differential pressures whereby t-he liquid levels in the legs indicate the relative quantity of each gaseous constituent entering the mixture.

Y 4c. In an apparatus for producing mixtures of gaseous constituents in predetermined proportions, the combination of a plurality of pipes adapted to be connected separately to sources of the gaseous constituents under pressure, a mixing chamber directly communicating with the pipes, means connected with the pipes and mixing chamber and controlled by differential pressures in the pipesv and mixing chamber to indicate the relative quantity of each gaseous constituent entering the mixture, and a vane in the mixing chamber to cause the gaseous constituents to mingle therein.

5. In an apparatus for producing mixtures of gaseous constituents in predetermined proportions, the combination of a mixing chamber, a plurality of pipes connected thereto and adapted to be connected separately to sources of the gaseous constituents under pressure, a plurality of legs connected to the pipes, a liquid receptacle communicating with the legs and with the mixing chamber, means to maintain diiierential pressures between the pipes and mixing chamber whereby t-he liquid levels in the legs indicate the relative quantity of each gaseous constituent entering the mixture, and means to maintain a constant level of the liquid in the liquid receptacle.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

` LLOYD K. RIGGS. 

